Permaculture Ranch in need of helping hands in Cortez, CO, USA

United States

Favourited 600 times

Host rating
Feedback
47
Last activity
13/06/2021
Reply rate
80.0 %
Average reply time:
within 1 day
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Availability

2021

Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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What's this?

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Description
Hello, my husband and I operate an 80 acre farm in Cortez CO utilizing the methods of permaculture. Our power is 100% solar and we use rain water harvesting with drip irrigation for our gardens. We've installed soil erosion Swales, eco friendly soil building techniques, and Eco design to promote growth in an otherwise dry climate. The chores around here give you the opportunity to learn all the functions of regenerative living. We've had tremendous success with skilled workawayers (over 100) who have come through here. If you have specialized skills (plumbing, construction, gardening, painting) that is great. Even if all you have is a good work ethic and a can do attitude....we'd love to have you! Now!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
UN sustainablity goals this host is trying to achieve
...
...
What's this?
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Just read my reviews, can’t say it any better.
Help
We really need extra hands. Watering garden, feeding the animals, digging holes for new trees, helping with construction with some heavy lifting. The work is always different, and we will accommodate your preferences, too. We want to give you work you would love to do!
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
We provide tents with all sleeping stuff, mattresses, sheets, pillows, and towels. If the weather turns bad there is room in the lodge. We also have a shower everyone can use but sparingly. We also can go to the river and clean off if needed.
What else ...
We live close to many great local attractions, such as Mesa Verde National Park, San Juan National Forest, Canyon of the Ancients and many tourist towns, such as Durango and Telluride. We love to hike, ski, visit hot springs, mushroom hunt, camp and explore the many 14,000 ft. peaks near us.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Our Lodge has a great large area that has plenty of desk areas to work from. Our internet is Starlink, very fast internet
Space for parking camper vans
All sizes welcome. No RV’s
Can possibly accept pets
No
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
15 hours/week-no food, 25 hours/week-food

Photos

Feedback left by and about host (47)

24/08/2018

Left by Workawayer (Alyssa) for host

While my feedback is a little overdue, I wanted to thank Kathy and Bob for a great workaway experience! They were extremely welcoming, generously opened up their home and included me in all activities. Nice conversation, great food and a wonderful learning experience. I appreciate all the time you took to get to know me as well as share your home… read more

(Excellent )

06/07/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (michal)

Michal was wonderful. She saw what I needed and took the initiative to build things that made my life easier. She has to go into the top 5 workawayers that have come to our ranch. She got up early and began to work and she had amazing strength especially building fence. What I loved most is how she fit right in to all the that was going on and… read more

(Excellent )

27/06/2018

Left by Workawayer (michal) for host

Kathy and Bob,
If I ever get to build my own house, it will be like yours! Solar panels, rain water usage, composting toilet, I am fascinated by this way of sustainability and I love that great combination of being simple and staying comfortable.
The story of how you build your house is fascinating and inspiring, thank you for this time of… read more

(Excellent )

15/06/2018

Left by Workawayer (Jieh Long) for host

Thank you for the kind words.
There are quite some regrets after leaving the ranch. For not being able to stay long enough, for not having done enough, for not expressing well enough how much I enjoyed Colorado and the ranch.
Like a movie trailer, I don't want to spoil too much about the place for the workawayers. Just know that the Kathy, Bob,… read more

(Excellent )

10/06/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Jieh Long)

Koh was wonderful to have here on the ranch. He was very hard working and loved helping out in any way possible. He is a great cook and we all loved his meals. We also had great conversations and we all learned a lot about the wonderful world we live in. If you get the opportunity to have Koh help you you won't be disappointed, he does the job… read more

(Excellent )

10/06/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Bianca)

We are all on a journey and meeting Bianca and learning all about who she is has taught me so much. I know she was able to truly relax while she was here and make new friends. She was a wonderful worker and we hope she will return soon because I think this time here was healing for her. She was so eager to learn and help all the time and she was… read more

(Excellent )

10/06/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Claire)

I have great workers most of the time but Claire is special and one we won't forget. She touched our heart and we will really miss her smiling face every morning. She worked so very hard and help me in so many ways. My children will really miss her funny ways and her great personality. She is learning English and she is really doing quite well,… read more

(Excellent )

01/02/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Alexander)

Alex came to our remote four corners site and, despite not having experienced anything like our lifestyle, tried every new experience with great enthusiasm. He went hunting in the mountains at 12k feet, tried out the mountain hot springs, tried every vegetarian dish we could throw at him. He loved it all and contributed greatly to the activities… read more

(Excellent )

10/01/2018

Left by Workawayer (Alexander) for host

I stayed with Kathy and Bob for a little over 2 weeks in October/November of last year (2017). I had a great time and learned so much! Their enthusiasm for all the various projects is both admirable and inspirational. I helped out with a shed installation and a couple smaller demo projects and got to see the amazing Sleeping Ute Mountain each day… read more

(Excellent )

30/09/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Muhammad Firdaus)

Muhammad was a complete delight to have here at the ranch. He has an amazingly funny sense of humor. I just remember laughing at the dinner table because he kept us all in stitches. He was a great worker. We had him help with a construction project and he had never done anything like it and he did great. The other workers that were here while he… read more

(Excellent )

23/08/2017

Left by Workawayer (Muhammad Firdaus) for host

Hey Kathy! Sorry I have been a bit busy since I left cortez.

For everyone reading this review, I need to let you know that Kathy and Bob is the most amazing host ever.I stayed with them about 3 weeks and learn so much things from them and other workawayer. I love hearing their story and perspective about this world. Bob with his wise look( hehe,… read more

(Excellent )

28/09/2017

Left by Workawayer (Cheri) for host

Kathy and Bob's place felt like home to me as soon as I arrived. Having been searching for good examples of the type of lifestyle I hope to achieve, it was apparent very shortly after arriving at the Provision Project that I had found a special place. With many ongoing projects and room for more, there is always something to work on around the… read more

(Excellent )

21/09/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Leah)

We had a wonderful time with Leah. She was a delight to be around and a joy to work with. She was always up early and ready to begin the day with a beautiful smile. She took such wonderful care of my gardens and all the animals. I wish she could have stayed longer and I hope she comes back again soon. My husband I I consider her another one of our… read more

(Excellent )

20/08/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Jon)

If you are blessed to have Jon and Shawna come to you place strap yourself in for one heck of a ride. Work alcoholic really is the right word but skilled and determined to do an excellent job is more like it. I had the do a finish job on our entry way room to our house. I am now afraid to put anything back in the room because it is so beautiful… read more

(Excellent )

11/08/2017

Left by Workawayer (Jon) for host

Stayed with Kathy and Bob for 3 weeks and had a really great time. Their permaculture home/ranch is a constant work-in-progress so there's always plenty of interesting things to keep you busy. In your downtime you can make a run to the river for a quick dip, check out the ancient dwellings of the Mesa Verde, watch the storm clouds building over… read more

(Excellent )

19/02/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Michael)

Michael arrived three days before my sons wedding and I can't tell you how helpful he was but he was awesome. I put him in charge of managing my ranch with two other workers who just arrived and they all did exactly what I asked. I was able to truly enjoy the wedding and I didn't worry one moment about the ranch. I was gone for four days and… read more

(Excellent )

13/02/2017

Left by Workawayer (Michael) for host

This one is REALLY overdue but I felt it was important to add to the long list of glowing reviews about this amazing place in the Southwest corner of Colorado. As my first Workaway, I was blown away by the experience that I had during my time staying with Bob and Kathy. I arrived at the beginning of September and stuck around for for about two and… read more

(Excellent )

14/12/2016

Left by Workawayer (Robert) for host

It has taken me a long time to leave a review, for two reasons... One - it is so obvious circling through the comments that this is an amazing place to go. There aren't any words I could add that would better encapsulate the wonderful spirit of the people working here, the educational space it provides and the permaculture principles it introduced… read more

(Excellent )

10/12/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Katie & Andrew)

Katie and Andrew were a great hard working couple. They also help me with some very unique art around the ranch. Loved to hear Andrew play music. I loved to see couples grow while working together and I think they learned many knew things about each other while they were here. That's what it is all about and we had fun living and working… read more

(Excellent )

03/10/2016

Left by Workawayer (Katie & Andrew) for host

It was a wonderful experience to stay and work at Kathy and Bob's homestead. We learned a lot about permaculture and that if you have faith in permaculture practices, one day you can create a food forest on any land. We worked six days a week for less than five hours a day. The tasks were varied and were always interesting. Some days we were… read more

(Excellent )

10/12/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Eric)

Eric, thank you so very much for that amazing feedback. I was so pleased that you came because I was a bit worn out from all the work that we did over the spring and summer and early fall. You were very kind to come and help me get a few thing buttoned up before the harsh winter hit us. What I have learned from all my workers is what life is… read more

(Excellent )

09/12/2016

Left by Workawayer (Eric) for host

This was my first workaway experience. I stayed for about two weeks in late November/early December. Kathy and Bob were wonderful hosts.

Kathy is beyond accommodating. She has a positive and passionate soul and you can see it all around the farm and the house.. Bob will skip all small talk and go right for the philosophical jugular, which I… read more

(Excellent )

10/11/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Eric)

Eric, you were a true delight to have here on our ranch. I loved your enthusiasm to start each day with powerful excitement. You motivated all those around you and it was visible. It was neat to see your experiments and taste them. I really enjoyed our conversations together and I feel blessed that you were comfortable to share with me your… read more

(Excellent )

28/10/2016

Left by Workawayer (Eric) for host

I stayed at Kathy and Bob's off-grid permaculture ranch for three weeks, and I have nothing but positive things to say about it. I'm coming away from the experience overflowing with excitement about permaculture and sustainable living, and I'm certain that I will be pursuing these ideas further in my own life. I'm coming away with renewed hope… read more

(Excellent )

25/08/2016

Left by Workawayer (Gloria) for host

I am not sure this feedback is ever going to be enough to describe the incredible people waiting for you in this ranch. I spent about two months with this family when I was supposed to just stay one. I just could not help leaving them.
The tasks are everyday different and you spend most of the time outside surrounded by beautifully scented… read more

(Excellent )

23/07/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Gloria)

Excellent is just not enough to describe how wonderful this beautiful young woman is... She has changed our lives an a magnificent way and we are so grateful she came into our lives. She worked so hard helping us get our veggie gardens ready with backbreaking work and she loved doing it. She just always seemed to know what we needed done and… read more

(Excellent )

01/08/2016

Left by Workawayer (Lizzie) for host

I am very impressed with the progress Kathy and Bob have made on their farm with the help of many volunteers. The first time I had a chance to visit, I worked with Bob while he taught me a lot about how and why they do things on their permaculture farm. After a tour of the farm, I had the opportunity to buck some hay, learn to drive the tractor,… read more

(Excellent )

26/07/2016

Left by Workawayer (Michael) for host

Kathy and Bob were fantastic hosts! I learned so much about permaculture and even some useful life lessons from Bob. While I was there we did lots of planting, I learned how to set up drip irrigation and I'm now a pro with the tractor. And that was really only half of what we did. Kathy's meals were always delicious and I was always well fed. They… read more

(Excellent )

23/07/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Michael)

Michael was a tremendous help to us with our irrigation system and plumbing, planting veggies and building a floor system . He was here for a while by himself and we were so grateful for his help. Then more workers showed up and the party began. They all got along very well and it was so nice having a nice group of helpful young people on the… read more

(Excellent )

25/07/2016

Left by Workawayer (Isabel) for host

Kathy and Bob were amazing hosts!
From the very first second you meet them you feel welcomed in their home. I learnt a lot about permaculture and sustainable living during the time I spent with them and they inspired me to apply all this knowledge in my every day life. The work was different every day (from planting to building and helping to… read more

(Excellent )

23/07/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Isabel)

It was such a joy to have Isabel come and stay with us. She was always cheerful and ready to help with anything we needed. She also was a wonderful cook and we enjoyed her meals very much. I know she will be doing more workaway in the near future and for those hosts out there you will absolutely love having Isabel. She is now a part of our… read more

(Excellent )

23/07/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Stephen)

Stephan and Emma were great to have around. They were always happy and silly and keeper everyone upbeat even though the weather was extremely hot. Loved having them cook especially the carrot cake... 5 star. I believe they learned a lot and will take it with them into their future. Good planting to you both. Thanks for all your hard work.

(Excellent )

29/02/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Austen & Katherine)

If it weren't for these two amazing people I am not sure I would have made it through the winter. They put in my plumbing, organized my in entire ranch. They were so kind and generous and just knew where I needed help. They kept all the other workers on happy and kept thing running smooth. I hope they come back soon because yes they are now a… read more

(Excellent )

28/02/2016

Left by Workawayer (Austen & Katherine) for host

This feedback is a long time overdue. We stayed with this family for two months, from September to November of last year. We couldn't have asked for a better set of hosts for our first Workaway experience! They opened their home to us and our dog and immediately treated us as family. Kathy and Bob are wonderful cooks, and we shared great… read more

(Excellent )

16/12/2015

Left by host for Workawayer (Karla & Johannes)

Karla and Johannes were a true delight to have at our ranch. They were great workers and they work well with each other. Karla loved using the tracker and she was very careful and I was vey appreciative. We had many other worker here at they time and they all got along marvelously. They also were able to see what was needed and jump right in… read more

(Excellent )

23/11/2015

Left by Workawayer (Karla & Johannes) for host

We loved staying with Kathy and Bob. We had a wonderful time helping to get everything ready for winter, learning a lot about permaculture, having interesting conversations and hanging out and getting to know the two of them as well as their children and fellow workawayers. We felt very welcome in this warm-hearted family and would have loved to… read more

(Excellent )

06/12/2015

Left by Workawayer (Sarang) for host

I loved staying at Kathy and Bob's ranch. The work was fulfilling and very educational- I'm really interested in starting my own food forest and permaculture farm one day and I learned so much from their landscaping techniques, work ethic, and determination! It was also great to meet other travelers like myself and loved how we cooked family style… read more

(Excellent )

19/11/2015

Left by Workawayer (Yvonne) for host

I spent a wonderful 5 weeks working on Kathy and Bob's ranch, and absolutely loved it! I felt welcomed and at home right away. It is a beautiful spot, the food is delicious, and the work is satisfying. I loved learning about swales, rain-water catchment techniques, rehabilitating ruined landscapes, edible wild foods, small animal husbandry,… read more

(Excellent )

01/10/2015

Left by Workawayer (Magdalena Róża) for host

This farm is more than just farm. Work there is more like recovery for you. The family including workawayers is warm, honest and true. They share with you all of knowledge about permaculture but mostly about life. I really enjoied living there. I was surrounded by amazing nature and animals like humans. Shower under the open sky is great… read more

(Excellent )

12/08/2015

Left by host for Workawayer (Ross)

I want to give Ross a lousy rating so he will only ever be able to do another Work Away at our ranch! The only thing I can actually fault him for is that, as my greatest peace is derived in the act of doing dishes, Ross robbed me of this diversion on a regular basis. I hesitate throwing out too many superlatives for concern that any future Work… read more

(Excellent )

11/08/2015

Left by Workawayer (Ross) for host

Dear Kathy, Bob, Callum, Chris, Carly, Katie, Adam, Leif, Maggie, Myrnie, Sarah Syverson, Doug, Tyler, Zach, Eric, John Sutcliffe, John Blueeyes, Rose, Katrina Blair, Kris Holstrom, Beverly Todd, Chello, Lily, Sully, Oopie, Sampson, The manager from Western Excelsior, The neighbor with horses, the prarie dog-sharp shooter, Taz, the folks of… read more Choice, Slavens, and City Market-Cortez, and the dozens of other folks I got the opportunity to interact with through this workaway project; thank you so much for an amazing summer.
This family seem to be the best example I have seen to date of a family integrating a permaculture philosophy into their lifestyle. They have the most peculiar and wonderful collection of outlooks and perspectives on the world of any folks I have met recently. The thing that was most remarkable to me was how their ideals and motives about diet, lifestyle, use and promotion of permaculture techniques meshed very well with what I would consider highly logical and or which did not clash with scientific (or in the case of diet, the cumulative wisdom of conventional dietetics, eating in context, and the role of food and lifestyle in health) even though these ideals and motives seemed to be derived primarily from spirituality (the torah) and a desire to get back to the land.
Kathy is a remarkably kind, hospitable, and agreeable individual, who is not afraid to experiment with food. Bob is full of great stories, and is a great person to have genuine arguments (discussions) with.
Thank you for allowing me to revive my enjoyment of hand-washing large quantities of dishes; for satisfying my love for physical accomplishment, for allowing me to partake in a humanure system, for introducing me to the folks, for sharing the great enjoyment of mushroom hunting, for gaining experience working with clutch-less tractors, building with pallets, caring for goats and turkeys, interacting with the soils of the Colorado high-desert, the logistics of tiny home construction transport and sales, for teaching how a fried egg is properly cooked, the experience of installing and repairing swales, so much about the joys of the southwest's wild edible plants, for inviting me to participate in a Big-Fat-Farm-Show radio show, for sharing many local secrets of great places to hike and explore, and all of the other amazing moments from this summer!
If you are not afraid to get your hands dirty, are a critical thinker, are looking for a refreshing outlook on life and an amazing set of experiences, this is the workaway opportunity to try out!

(Excellent )

27/06/2015

Left by host for Workawayer (Chaeta & Jonas)

We have been blessed with awesome workers here at the ranch and Chaeta and Jace were terrific. They loved having their own project that they could put their name too. It was very hot here at the time and they really pushed through it. We also enjoyed our breaks. I hope they return on their way back to see the growth of all their work. Be well… read more

(Excellent )

26/06/2015

Left by Workawayer (Chaeta & Jonas) for host

I wish there was a rating above excellent! Kathy is the greatest host ever. We left feeling so inspired and enthusiastic about life after staying just a short two weeks or so. Bob and Kathy and their children are such a cool family, and the work we did was hard but very rewarding. Living in the high desert can take a lot of getting used to if… read more

(Excellent )

19/04/2015

Left by host for Workawayer (Ida)

Ida was pure joy for me to have around. Her efforts was so amazingly helpful to all of us. We all miss her very much. I loved her cheerful attitude in every job we asked her to do. I also loved the ability to just see what was need and jump right in and get it done. She taught us all many things about her culture and and we loved our dinner… read more

(Excellent )

18/04/2015

Left by Workawayer (Ida) for host

It is hard to describe my experience with this family; when I think about it I just think of laughter, kindness and appreciation.
I really appreciated getting in contact with Kathy, which plays an important role if you travel half the globe to get somewhere. She was really laid back and at the same time totally reliable. The work I did was… read more

(Excellent )

20/10/2014

Left by host for Workawayer (John & Emily)

We loved these two wonderful people. I so needed their help and they jumped right in and happily did all I asked and more. They did feel like my own kids and I miss them very much already. I know they will back and we will open our doors and give them a big hug. Safe travels to them both.

(Excellent )

18/10/2014

Left by Workawayer (John & Emily) for host

Kathy, Bob, and company ( all 5 children) were incredibly generous hosts. We were warmly welcomed into their family and immediately felt at home. There is no shortage of love in the family and one can rest assured knowing it will be shared fully.
Kathy: a chef in her own right and wonderful mom (we adopted her as our own, and it is likely you… read more

(Excellent )

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